title: Occupational exposure to endocrine disruptors and time to pregnancy among couples in a large birth cohort study: the Generation R Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the influence of occupational exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDs) on time to pregnancy (TTP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis within a prospective, population-based cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers and fathers who filled out a questionnaire during mid-pregnancy (response 77% and 82% of enrollment, respectively) were selected if the pregnancy was planned and either parent performed paid employment. In total, 2,774 mothers and 2,728 partners were included in the statistical analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported TTP (months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no correlation between maternal and paternal exposure, because κ values for agreement for all exposure categories ranged from 0.03 to 0.13. Paternal occupational exposure to heavy metals (hazard ratio of pregnancy 0.83; 95% confidence interval 0.71-0.97) and overall exposure to EDs (hazard ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval 0.75-0.96) was statistically significantly associated with an increased TTP. Maternal occupational exposure to all categories of EDs showed prolonged TTP, but the decreased hazard ratios were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This birth cohort study provides indications for adverse effects of parental occupational exposure to EDs on TTP.
authors.affiliation: Generation R Study Group Erasmus Medical Center, Department of Public Health, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Claudia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Snijder
authors.forename: Marijn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.forename: Vincent W V
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Jaddoe
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Nel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roeleveld
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burdorf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001721:Birth Intervals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001723:Birth Rate; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors